[jqp]

http://www.criterion.com/library/bluray

PS3 should arrive tomorrow!

[Bob in St. Louis]

Glad you're getting the PS3 !!
You'll enjoy it very much.

I checked out the collection, maybe I'm simply not getting it, but for $32 you can buy a 60 year old black and white movie shown in a 4:3 aspect ratio. 
Are these special in some way. Please explain, as I don't get it.

The second one from the top:


Bob

[fiveoclockfriday]

I believe they are supposed to be very high quality transfers, and they're known for excellent packaging and extras as well.

As far as the aspect ratio, many old movies were filmed in 4:3 or even narrower on occasion. Hard to imagine now, but it's not Pan and Scan or anything like that, it's respecting the original ratio. Well mastered B&W looks awesome in HD!

[baumer]

I believe they are supposed to be very high quality transfers, and they're known for excellent packaging and extras as well.

+1 as well as, in my opinion, a collection of the best movies ever made.

The Last Emperor on Blu-ray from Criterion, now that will make my long, cold winter a little brighter!

Doug

[jqp]

I checked out the collection, maybe I'm simply not getting it, but for $32 you can buy a 60 year old black and white movie shown in a 4:3 aspect ratio. 
Are these special in some way. Please explain, as I don't get it.
Bob

Yeah the Blu-Ray movies in this collection are not necessarily the 'Blu-Ray Demo' type of movies, but more the 'film as an art form'. For example The Rules of the Game by Renoir - its black and white, French and supposedly the best movie ever made, most people have never heard of it. But Criterion does an excellent packaging of it with an excellent transfer from film, and all kinds of extras and interviews (DVD). If you do like a movie, definitely check out a Criterion Collection edition if you can - mostly DVDs of course.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Oh, ok. I gotcha.
Now I understand. Thanks for the explanation guys! 

Bob